Overflowing Joy

SERMON OUTLINE:

• (1). Joy in Worship (vs 42 & 46-47).

• (2). Joy in Teaching (vs 42a)

• (3). Joy in Fellowship (vs 44-45).

• (4). Joy in Evangelism. (v 47b)

SERMON BODY:

Ill:

• When missionaries in the northern part of Alaska, where the Eskimos live,

• Were trying to get the Bible translated, they had some difficulty.

• When you go to translate the Bible in any culture,

• There’s a difficulty in translating some words,

• Because cultures and languages don’t always have the same words.

• ill: (Isaiah 1:18) “White as snow….white as cotton wool”

• There was no word in the Eskimo language for joy.

• And as they were trying to translate joy, biblically, they drew from experience.

• And as they watched the Eskimos,

• They saw that the happiest, the most joyful moments in those Eskimo village,

• Were in the evening when they fed their sled dogs.

• They’d go out, and the dogs would yelp and wag their tails and get all excited.

• And so, out of that experience, they pulled the word for joy: "wagging their tails."

• When you translate our verse Eskimo style, it says,

• "I bring you good news, all people will wag their tails.".

Note:

• You gave me the title ‘overflowing joy’

• But if you examine the text, the word, ‘joy’ does not appear in the passage.

• The nearest we get to it is verse 46b, “with glad and sincere hearts”

• Now if you are glad about something, you are happy and pleased about it.

• So glad can be an alternative word for joy.

Ill:

• In Greek language of the New Testament, the word for joy is ‘chara.’

• This describes a feeling of inner gladness, delight or rejoicing.

• This inner gladness leads to a cheerful heart,

• And a cheerful heart leads to cheerful behaviour.

• We see this joyful behaviour expressed by these Christians in four ways.

(1). Joy in Worship (vs 42 & 46-47).

• We are told that the early church was a ‘worshipping community’.

• We see that worship expressed in three simple ways,

“they devoted themselves to … (1). the breaking of bread (communion) (2). and to prayer’

(3). and to ‘praising God.”

• So, these Christians expressed their worship three simple ways,

• We are also told that they, ‘devoted themselves,’

• These Christians made worship a priority,

• Notice verse 46: they met together ‘every day.’

• That tells me they enjoyed, they found joy in worshipping together.

Ill:

• One thing I have learnt over the years as a Christian,

• Is that everyone’s take on worship is different.

• If you ask a Pentecostal; an Anglican; a Brethren, a Methodist; a Baptist.

• Their answers will all probably differ.

• If you ask a young person, or an older Christian,

• Once again their answers may very well be different.

• However, you define it; or whatever your take or viewpoint is.

• One thing is I think we would all agree on,

• Worship is important and should be a priority in the life of every Christian.

Ill:

• 3 Minute Theology 5.4: ‘What is Worship?’

• YouTube link: https://youtu.be/xoTiigkidzs

Ill:

• Francis Chan, is an American Protestant author, teacher, and preacher.

• One Sunday after he preached, he stood by the exit door of the Church.

• One member of the congregation walked by and said to him,

• “Pastor I did not like those songs we sang this morning!”

• He replied, “That’s ok, because we were not worshipping you!”

• Our worship is focused on God, it may be expressed in a variety of ways and even styles,

• But if we lose sight of God, then we will lose the joy in our worship.

(2). Joy in Teaching (vs 42a)

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching”

• We are told that the early church was a ‘learning congregation’.

• N.I.V.: ‘They devoted themselves to the Apostle's teaching’.

• K.J.B.: “they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine”

Ill:

• Preachers and sermons are often the butt of jokes,

• Some of us get criticised for our long sermons,

• e.g. How do you make a Trevor James sermon 30mins long? Ans: Cut it in half!

• Some preachers get criticised for the dullness of their sermons.

• e.g. Story of the preacher who stopped half way through his sermon and said to a woman,

• “Is your husband asleep, wake him up!”

• She replied, “You sent him to sleep, you wake him up!”

Quote: Robert Louis Stevenson:

• The Scottish novelist, poet, essayist, and travel writer.

• Once wrote in his diary: “I have been to church today and I am not depressed.”